After a bruising campaign marked by attack ads and charges of extremism, Sen.-elect Marco Rubio and seven new House members will be sworn into office Wednesday to join a Florida delegation headed for a sharp right turn.

"Democrats may not agree. You might see a little bit of difference between us with regard to things like health care and offshore drilling," Stearns said in an interview while preparing for the new session. "But these are the ideas I'm going to bring up and ask the others what they feel."

Stearns plans to invite House Republican leaders John Boehner and Eric Cantor to meet with the delegation to see how their plans might mesh.

Though members from both parties may agree on many matters, they appear to be on a collision course on some issues, notably offshore drilling, which in recent years has turned from a common cause against drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico to a divisive partisan debate.

The few remaining Florida Democrats — down to just six in the House and Sen. Bill Nelson, a moderate who's gearing up for a tough re-election campaign in 2012 — are wary of the Republican agenda, especially when it comes to offshore drilling. The Democrats want to keep oil rigs far from the state's shores to shelter beaches, wildlife and tourism from future spills.

"How anyone, after the BP oil spill, could say we should bring more oil drilling closer to shore is really beyond me," said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston. "That's irresponsible. No, I don't think that's likely to draw much support on my side.

"That does not bode well for the delegation working together."

Shakeup

After wresting four seats from Democrats, Republicans will dominate the delegation in the House 19 to 6. Republican Rubio, a darling of conservatives who replaces George LeMieux, will join Nelson in the Senate.

In general, members from both parties support Everglades restoration, funding for the nation's space program, development of solar power and other energy alternatives, help for growers, science grants for Florida's universities and improved forecasting to track storms and ocean currents.

They want BP to clean up the oil spill in the Gulf and to fully pay the claims of Floridians who suffered. And they want to bolster mass-transit systems and expand highways to keep residents, tourists and commerce flowing.

Members from both parties are looking to Rep. John Mica, R- Winter Park, the incoming chairman of the House transportation committee, to help them fund the state's transit needs.

At the same time, however, they face the conflicting task of paring back spending to restrain the national debt. Leaders of the GOP's new House majority have pledged to roll back spending to 2008 levels.

"It's going to be harder because of this irresponsible spending spree that Congress and the administration have been on for the last two years," grumbled Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami, who was named to the Appropriations Committee.

Thanks to the election, most members now come from either the liberal or conservative end of the spectrum.

What's more, three of the winning Republicans — Steve Southerland of Panama City, Sandy Adams of Orlando and Allen West of Plantation — campaigned on vows to shake up Capitol Hill, not just hammer out compromises.

Finally, the 2010 campaign was even more acrimonious than usual.

Wasserman Schultz, for example, called West an "extremist" and demonstrated outside his campaign office to accuse him of insensitivity toward women. In Central Florida, Republicans are still smarting from "Taliban Dan" commercials run by liberal Democratic incumbent Alan Grayson that twisted remarks by GOP winner Dan Webster to depict him as a religious fundamentalist opposed to women's rights.

In past years, Floridians — unlike feuding members from some other large states — have used their collective clout to press common interests, such as extracting money for the Everglades, beach re-nourishment and transportation.

"The question is whether some of that will come to an end, given the rhetoric especially from the tea party movement within the Republican Party," said Daniel Smith, director of the Political Campaigning Program at the University of Florida. "The partisan rancor and grandstanding could hurt some of the bipartisan efforts to work in the best interests of Florida."

Members of both parties say they can find enough common ground to serve their job-starved state, despite their ideological differences. One reason is that several newcomers (and some of the holdovers) served together in the Legislature, long a crucible for the state's tradition of bipartisan cooperation.

"Many of us were accustomed to working together when we were in Tallahassee," said Frederica Wilson of Miami Gardens, the lone Democratic newcomer from Florida. "I think we'll be fine. I can't say that for the rest of Congress."

West, the most avid anti-establishment candidate, said he's willing to work with his Florida colleagues if they put aside personal attacks.

"If this is personal — that they just don't like me — they need to get over it," West said. "Because this is about what's best for this country, not their personal likes or dislikes. I'm willing to sit down and talk with them. If they don't want to talk with me, it's their loss."

Some Democrats are pushing for U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings to remain the delegation's co-chairman to bring some balance. Stearns said he'll ask Hastings to be vice chairman.

Regardless of his role, Hastings, D- Miramar, is optimistic.

"Most of us remain friends and are capable of doing things as a delegation," Hastings said. "It will be interesting to see how the new members coming up here are going to acclimate. This institution quickly teaches you that you are not as important as you thought you were when you ran for office."